A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) Read Free Page B

been convinced her father wouldn’t allow her to leave as he relied on her to manage Montvue. She was an only child, and her father treated her more as servant than daughter. Never before had he brought up the subject of marriage. Not until Tegmont. The thought of the lord made her shudder with unease.
    The last time she’d seen Lord Tegmont had been at a banquet held at Montvue over a year ago when his third wife had still been alive.
    He was a distinguished looking man, tall with a long, narrow face framed by black hair with eyes that matched. Eyes that unsettled her with their unwavering regard despite sitting beside his wife. She’d seemed a timid thing and had remained at his side most of the evening. Alyna had been uncomfortable in his presence and done her best to avoid him, but had often felt the weight of his gaze on her.
    Much to her dismay, he’d cornered her on her way to the kitchen. She could still feel him leaning over her, his hands caressing her shoulders through the thinness of her gown.
    “Lady Alyna,” he’d whispered. “What a beautiful woman you’ve become.” He’d stood so close to her that his breath brushed her neck as he spoke. Something in his dark eyes had seemed unbalanced, evil even.
    She eased back, but he followed. “Thank you, my lord. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve an errand in the kitchen I must see to.”
    “A lady as lovely as you has no place in the kitchen. You should be waited upon hand and foot.” He drew a finger slowly along her collarbone just above the neck of her gown.
    Stunned by his forwardness, Alyna backed up again only to be blocked by the wall. “My lord, I believe your wife needs you.” She’d slipped away when he’d looked back into the hall where he’d left his wife.
    She’d come away from the brief encounter aware she’d had a narrow escape. Now she would make her escape for good, and her father would have to pay someone to run the manor in her place.
    While prepared to do her duty as a lady and marry, she couldn’t bear the thought of spending the rest of her life with someone who made the hair on the back of her neck rise.
    Rumors told of Tegmont’s involvement with a group of barons unhappy with King Henry III. What they plotted and planned was anyone’s guess, but now her father had become embroiled with them. Alyna knew his involvement had been a catalyst for him arranging her marriage to Tegmont.
    Tegmont’s timid third wife had died not long ago, God rest her soul. Some whispered that her death had not been an accident, nor had the deaths of the wives before her. None of them had given him an heir. The thought of him touching her made Alyna shudder with horror.
    She neared the place where the path edged the forest. The budding trees looked quite cheerful in the day, but now, their dark branches loomed over her. The dense undergrowth and dim light made the path difficult to see.
    Her heart pounded and her breath quickened. What was there about this spot today that caused her such disquiet? Shaking her head at her overactive senses, she walked faster but kept a careful eye on her surroundings as she hurried along.
    A shadow moved on her right and fear tore through her. The shape shifted again until it took the form of broad shoulders. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth and an arm caught her around the waist.
    “I wish you no harm, my lady,” a deep voice whispered in her ear.
    Alyna responded by driving her elbow into the man’s stomach. Her elbow struck chain mail and vibrated with pain. She stomped on his foot, but received only a grunt in response. She slammed her basket into the man’s face. Her captor loosened his grip, and she ran.
    Hope of escape filled her as she raced toward the manor gate. She made it two steps, then five. The edge of the clearing was just ahead, where the guards would be able to see her.
    The man’s body slammed into hers. She hit the ground with a force that left her breathless. Immobile and